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9650 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9650: Operations Analyst

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Operations Analyst (9650)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9650 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Management Analyst

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Consulting skillsBusiness process improvement methodologies

Operations Research Analyst

$90K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced statistical modelingSpecific software proficiency (e.g., R, Python)

Project Manager

$100K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile methodologies

Cost Estimator

$80K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Cost estimating software proficiencyEarned value management

Logistics Analyst

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Supply chain management principlesLogistics software experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9650 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As an operations analyst, you constructed models of military operations and weapons systems to predict outcomes and identify vulnerabilities.

Your ability to model complex systems translates directly to analyzing and optimizing business processes or financial markets.

Resource Optimization

You were responsible for optimizing resource allocation within military operations, ensuring maximum effectiveness with available assets.

This skill is invaluable in civilian roles where efficient resource management directly impacts profitability and project success.

After-Action Analysis

You conducted thorough after-action analyses to identify areas for improvement in military strategies and tactics.

This translates to a strong ability to analyze project outcomes, identify lessons learned, and implement improvements in future endeavors.

Adversarial Thinking

Through war gaming and simulations, you anticipated the actions and reactions of potential adversaries to develop effective countermeasures.

Your capability to think adversarially is highly valuable in risk management, cybersecurity, and competitive intelligence roles.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 11-9199.00

You've been analyzing military operations and systems. Now, channel that expertise into improving business efficiency and strategy. Your knack for resource optimization and after-action analysis makes you uniquely qualified to identify inefficiencies and implement effective solutions for businesses.

Financial Analyst

SOC 13-2051.00

Your experience in cost-effectiveness studies and program management translates directly to financial analysis. You've been modeling military scenarios; now you can use those skills to analyze market trends, assess investment risks, and optimize financial portfolios. Your system modeling abilities will set you apart.

Cybersecurity Analyst

SOC 15-1212.00

Given your background in analyzing military operations and weapons systems, you inherently understand threat vectors and vulnerabilities. Your experience in adversarial thinking is directly applicable to anticipating and mitigating cyber threats, protecting organizations from attacks. Your skills are highly sought after in this field.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Operations Analysis Course, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA

320 training hours8 weeksGraduate-level credit recommended, transcript review required

Topics Covered

  • Introduction to Operations Research
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Mathematical Programming
  • Simulation
  • Decision Analysis
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Wargaming Fundamentals
  • Data Analysis and Visualization

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Formal project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), specific PM tools and software (MS Project, Jira), and the PMI's ethical code.

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)50% covered

Advanced statistical modeling techniques, specific analytics software (R, Python, SAS), and business communication skills to present findings to stakeholders.

Certified Cost Professional (CCP)40% covered

In-depth knowledge of cost estimating, cost control, and economic analysis techniques beyond military applications, plus familiarity with industry-specific cost data and software.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)Lean Six Sigma Green BeltDAU Level I certification in Program ManagementDoD Financial Management Certification Program (DFMCP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Automated Deep Operations System (JADOCS)Modeling and Simulation Software (e.g., Simio, AnyLogic)
Marine Air-Ground Task Force Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS)Discrete Event Simulation Software
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Geospatial analysis and mapping software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS)
Global Command and Control System - Joint (GCCS-J)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC)Situational Awareness Platforms
Tactical Data Network (TDN)Military-grade secure network communication systems

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